Strategies for antidepressants extraction from biological specimens using nanomaterials for analytical purposes: A review

Abstract Accurate and precise monitoring of antidepressant drugs represents a crucial step for the adequate and personalized treatment of several psychological disorders such as depression, which nowadays represent a social, economic and health major concern. Several chemical, electrochemical, and biological methods have been traditionally developed for the extraction and detection of antidepressants, even though several restrictions such as post-treatment required, elevate costs and limited efficiency. Nanotechnology is a field with a tremendous growth observed in the last two decades, especially regarding their many biological applications, such as antibacterial or as biosensors, as well as in many different applications related to medicine. Lately, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising substitute for the extraction of antidepressants instead of traditional techniques, as nanomaterials can be efficiently used as sorbents due to their small size and their high specific surface area which enhance their high reactivity. In this review article, we provide a general overview on the use of different nanomaterials for the extraction of antidepressants from biological specimens and discuss not only the advantages but also the major limitations of using such nanomaterials. Potential alternatives to overcome these drawbacks are discussed as well.